This project is a first for our group. Crossing an international border with mining equipment.

This project came together really fast. Monday of last week (March 23rd) we receive a call that the Canadian Gypsum Company wants to donate a 3-1/2 ton Atlas Battery locomotive to our group. The unit was being removed from the underground mine that same week and we needed to pick it up by that Friday (March 27th) by 7am. Our group went into action arranging international shipping documents ASAP. Crossing the U.S. border is no easy task this day in age & we were tested to the rules as we crossed. I had tied the traffic up behind me for 20 minutes as the customs officers were trying to figure out how to handle a mine locomotive crossing the border. Very unique project for us and plus we had another project happen this past week near the pacific ocean right after this Canadian project was completed. I will post pictures of that project soon.

Special thanks to Kyle Kennedy, the mill & mine manager of CGC & all the miners that helped make the project a reality.

Also special thanks to our members Ray Mercado for the project coordination, Mike for the heavy repairs to the trailer at the last minute. The drive was a challenge for myself after working all day & didn't leave Columbus, Ohio until 10;30pm Thursday evening due to trailer repairs. Drove all night and made it to the Canadian mine site by 6:30am Friday morning. Then the fun began at the border crossing on the return trip

I will have some pics towards the end of the week. It looks totally different now. We have to still paint the new fabricated battery covers & install the controller that was not there when we got it. Runs great.

The reason why it was painted silver is because it was the last color we found. It is something different & it will set the Gypsum one out from the rest.

It is rare to see them painted silver but we have seen several J&L Steel locos painted that way plus Climax Molybdenum Co units painted similar for a few examples.

Patterns

We have a few different ways. One we can digitize an original in using a ruby tipped probe then machining it out of a ren board type of material. Using this method we can comp out the shrinkage factor.

The second method is to take the original & mount it to a patterm board then press it into the foundry sand in the core box. The new casting will shrink slightly.

Chris

The entire frame was replaced at some point. I believe they added the diagonal bracing then to. It has a disc brake on the powered axle & that thing stops on the dime. What we have noticed all in service today have a hydraulic assisted brake on the brake shoes, disc brake or air brakes. The only ones left using the conventional manual screw type are the units in Anty country. Not sure how that works because I believe there is a regulation requiring them to have a hydraulic powered parking brake of some sort.

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